Abstract:
People living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are prone to opportunistic infections including urinary tract infection (UTI). There is limited evidence in Libya regarding UTIs and HIV. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of UTI among HIV patients attending the infectious disease hospital in Benghazi, Libya. Urine samples are collected and processed by macroscopic and microscopic examination for the identification of bacteria. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion method. Urine samples were collected from 112 HIV seropositive patients, and 428 seronegative control group individuals. Out of 112 seropositive patients, 18(16%) had UTI. Escherichia coli was the most frequently occurring bacterial isolate 8(44%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus 4(21%), and Klebsiella species 3(17%). While the least common pathogens were Salmonella Species, Micrococcus, and Sphingo-bacterium; each had 1(6%). The age group 23-28 years recorded the highest prevalence of UTIs 11 (61%), while those aged 35-42 years had the least occurrence 2 (11%). On the other hand, out of 428 seronegative individuals' samples, 40(9%) yielded growth of bacteria. The distribution of uro-pathogens from urine specimens of seronegative patients revealed also Escherichia coli as the most prevalent uro-pathogens 18(45%), followed by Klebsiella species 8(20%) and then Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter species; each 5(12.5%). While the least common pathogens were Pseudomonas species and Staphylococcus Saprophyticus 2(5%). The age group 25-30 years recorded the highest prevalence of UTI; 11 (61%) in HIV-positive patients, while the age group. 41-70 years recorded the highest prevalence of UTI 18(45%) in HIV-negative patients. Female individuals showed the highest number of bacterial isolates; females had a prevalence of 14(78%) and males 4(22%) in seropositive patients, while in the seronegative patients, females had 35(87.5%) and males had 5(12.5). The study showed a high prevalence of UTIs among HIV patients which is an indication of the ineffectiveness of prophylaxis administered to HIV patients to prevent opportunistic
